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All it took was dinner at Odd Duck. That’s the moment chef Gregory Leon credits as inspiration to leave his San Francisco kitchen post and make Milwaukee home.

In this episode, we meet Gregory León, the owner and chef of Amilinda in downtown Milwaukee. He’s been nominated for Best Chef in the Midwest in 2022 and 2023 by the James Beard Foundation and this year — he got one at the national level for Outstanding Chef.

A beloved neighborhood gem, Amilinda in Milwaukee is celebrating 10 years of serving up dishes and drinks inspired by the flavors of Spain and Portugal. With a menu that changes weekly, multi-year James Beard Award nominee, Chef Gregory León, and his team welcome...

For chef Gregory León, earning a fourth James Beard award nomination isn’t about him. “It’s not just a reflection on me, it’s a reflection on my staff,” León told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today.” 

Chef Gregory Leon, owner of Milwaukee's Spanish and Portuguese-inspired restaurant Amilinda, isn't your typical success story. In fact, his culinary journey began far from the Milwaukee restaurant scene he now calls home.

The Joshs talk to three-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Gregory León, who talks about his journey to Milwaukee, his experience on Top Chef, his restaurant Amilinda, Milwaukee Flavor Live event and his featured dessert in "Milwaukee Flavor: The Cookbook".

We recently connected with Gregory Leon and have shared our conversation below.

Gregory León is the owner and executive chef of this celebrated Milwaukee eatery, and you will find him in the small street-facing kitchen cooking every evening. Chef León spent much of his youth in Venezuela before bringing his culinary talents to various San Francisco restaurants as well as working in Madrid.

“We were put to the end of the line, and they ran out of money before they got to the majority of people,” said Gregory Leon, chef and owner of Amilinda, a restaurant in Milwaukee that was approved for a $285,000 grant but never received the money. The $28 billion program ran out of funds before Amilinda’s grant could be funded under the court-ordered approach.

Between Milwaukee and Broadway sits Amilinda, a Spanish-Portuguese restaurant owned by Gregory Leon.

“I learned and discovered that food and cooking is something that you can use to bring people together,” says Gregory Leon, an award-winning chef in Milwaukee.

All over the U.S., LGBTQ+-owned businesses have come a long way, emerging from the closets and the sidelines of society into the forefront. That’s thanks to pioneering entrepreneurs and loud-and-proud voices championing change and doing their parts to influence communities in meaningful ways.

Al menos 18 chefs o directores de restaurantes de ascendencia latina están en la lista de finalistas para los premios James Beard, conocidos como los "Oscar culinarios". En entrevista varios celebran que el galardón esté volteando hacia cocinas más diversas y...

His father’s Venezuelan roots inspire the menu at Amilinda, 315 E. Wisconsin Ave., but chef/owner Gregory Leon incorporates his Jewish mother’s family traditions into matzah brei.

Today, the James Beard Foundation announced its slate of finalists for its 2023 restaurant and chef awards. In addition to revealing who has advanced from the semifinalist pool revealed last month, the Foundation has also announced six recipients of the...

From polka-fueled Friday fish fries at a craft brewery to saucy vegan burgers at a weed-themed, plant-based joint, here’s where to eat in Wisconsin’s largest city Read More

Navigating the testosterone-fueled world of professional kitchens is a difficult task for anybody, but these LGBTQ+ chefs have found success in their truth and in the incredible food they're making. Read more

Drum roll please... let's raise a glass to the resilience, innovation and creativity of these local restaurant heroes. Read More

Today, we are announcing our 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists in advance of the returning James Beard Awards® Read more

Sometimes there's a misconception that America's top chefs reside mainly on the coasts. In reality, chefs across the Midwest, Great Plains, and other heartland states are rocking the culinary arts in their hometowns and beyond. Read more

The food might vary, but each of these places provides a safe, welcoming place where you can enjoy a great meal. Read more

The U.S. Small Business Administration, which oversees the awards, is quiet about why operators’ promised funding is being rescinded for the second time this month. Read more

Over 2,900 businesses owned by women, people of color, and veterans haven’t gotten the sorely needed money the SBA promised them following lawsuits filed by MAGA-aligned groups on behalf of white restaurant owners. read more